“Snap” scoring system for welfare

www.theranger.co.uk

A new photographic system for scoring hen welfare has been unveiled by the EU.

It is planned that the system will become adopted as the universal tool for rating hen health and wellbeing by producers, scientists and welfare inspectors around the globe.

The system is based on 61 pictures of birds suffering varying degrees of feather loss, pecking damage and bumble foot. For plumage checks the pictures cover six body parts—the neck, breast, vent, back, wings and tail. For skin they cover the rear body and comb. And a further set cover bumble foot legions.

In each category the system offers a set of snaps illustrating 1-4 grades. The higher the number the better the condition. By comparing the bird in hand to the photographs it will be possible to make a "snap decision" on the condition.

It is said to be so simple to use that a judgment can be made on each bird in just thirty seconds.

The new system has emerged from the EU's LayWel project into bird welfare. The nine groups of scientists working on the project discovered that just about every research organisation had its own system for rating health and welfare which made research comparisons impossible.

"The LayWel scoring system provides a standard that is easy to use, language independent, applicable in any situation and supported by the major institutes working on the welfare of laying hens," says a report. "This makes the system unique and will give it the potential to be the first world wide standard."

* Those who want to pursue the new system further or view the full range of pictures can do so via the LayWel website www.laywel.eu but be warned you will encounter a new word. The scientists repeatedly refer to a hen's "integument". According to the Ranger dictionary this means "a tough, protective outer layer, particularly that of an animal or plant." Feathers to you and me.